Reg Wood's only Test appearance was a classic case of right place, right time. Charterhouse educated (in 1876 he took 95 wickets at 7.10) he played six times for Lancashire (as an amateur) over five years before emigrating to Australia where he briefly played for Victoria as a professional. A left-arm quick bowler, his ungainly action led to murmurings that he threw although it is not believed he was ever called.
When Billy Barnes was incapacitated - a punch aimed at Percy McDonnell, Australia's captain, instead connected with a wall - Wood was on hand and turned out three times for the tourists, including the Melbourne Test. The fairytale ended there, however, as batting at No. 10 he made 6 and 0. That was the end of his first-class career, and he became a coach in and around Melbourne. Martin Williamson

Reg Wood, who died in poverty in Manly, Sydney on January 6, 1915, aged 54, was in the Charterhouse XI of 1876, played six games for Lancashire as an amateur between 1880 and 1884 and played a Test match for England on the 1886-87 tour of Australia. Wood had emigrated to Melbourne and reappeared in first-class cricket for Victoria against Alfred Shaw's English team. Shaw had brought only 11 players, and the First Test at Sydney was marked by a fight between the England player, William Barnes, and the Australian captain, Percy McDonnell. Barnes injured his hand, apparently after missing McDonnell's face and punching a wall. Wood was then co-opted into the Test team: batting No. 10 he scored 6 and 0, did not bowl and took no catches. He played for Shaw's team against Victoria then disappeared from first-class cricket. He became professional at both East Melbourne and Sydney Albert but was later reported to be working "in a lowly capacity, with sheep". A correspondent in Australia said that at his death he had little more than the clothes he wore and his tuckerbag.Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

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